Welcome to Week 22 of Desiring the Kingdom and 2 Kings chapter 5. This week’s chapter is just one miracle (as opposed to last week, which contained stories of FIVE miracles), but there are five principle characters who play a part in the story. We’re going to consider each one of them in this week’s personal worship.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
What Truly Matters
Observe
Meet Naaman, one of the central figures in this chapter. He is described as honorable and a mighty man of valor. The Bible records that the Lord had given victory to Syria through Naaman and although the specific victory is not mentioned, it would make sense for this to be the battle between Syria and Israel where Ahab was killed. As a matter of fact, Jewish tradition (as recorded by the historian Josephus) was that Naaman was the Syrian soldier who fired the random arrow into the air that killed Ahab.
{2 Kings 5:1, 11-12, 15 ESV}
{1} Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. … {11} But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. {12} Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. … {15} Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”
{Psalm 49:1-12 ESV}
{1} To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, {2} both low and high, rich and poor together! {3} My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. {4} I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. {5} Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, {6} those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? {7} Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, {8} for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, {9} that he should live on forever and never see the pit. {10} For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. {11} Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. {12} Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
{Luke 12:13-21 ESV}
{13} Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” {14} But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” {15} And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” {16} And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, {17} and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ {18} And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. {19} And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”‘ {20} But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ {21} So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Naaman had two problems, leprosy was only one of them. The other was pride. He was a capable, successful, and powerful general. He was highly regarded by his king. But it doesn’t matter how much wealth and power you have, when it comes to matters of life and death, the things that truly matter, rich and poor are all the same. All of Naaman’s success, competence, power, and good reputation could not save him or heal him in any way. He needed the Lord. As it turns out, Naaman learned that lesson and the Lord cured him of both his problems.
- What would you say are the things that truly matter to you?
- If someone who has never met you observed the things you say and do, what do you think they would say truly matters to you?
Heavenly Father, it is so easy to fall into the trap of assigning value to things that don’t matter. Nothing is more important than you. To be able to serve you and to know that one day we will live forever in the home you have prepared for us is far greater than any amount of money or fame. Thank you, Lord, for giving us what we could never earn. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Day 2
Everyday People
Observe
Today we meet someone whose name we never get to know, a Hebrew girl captured as a slave during one of Syria’s border raids against Israel and given to Naaman’s wife as a servant. In what appears to be genuine concern over Naaman’s condition, she speaks to his wife and suggests that he go to “the prophet who was in Samaria” (Elisha) because she was confident the prophet could cure Naaman of his disease.
{2 Kings 5:2-4 ESV}
{2} Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. {3} She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” {4} So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”
{Romans 12:17-21 ESV}
{17} Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. {18} If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. {19} Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” {20} To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” {21} Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
{Jeremiah 29:4-7 ESV}
{4} “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: {5} Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. {6} Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. {7} But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
God was completely in control of this young woman’s circumstances. That may seem difficult to say about someone who was forcibly removed from her home and made into a servant. But God has a plan and a purpose that transcends anything we might have planned, and while this can indeed mean God gives us short term hardship or discomfort to live through, it also means those things have meaning. In the midst of these hard circumstances, the young woman didn’t forget God (or his prophet!) and spoke up as she thought she should. The powerful Naaman would be healed because he listened to the word of the Lord coming through an everyday person, someone more faithful than famous, accomplishing God’s eternal plan and purpose.
- How do your circumstances influence your ability to look for your part in God’s plan and purpose?
- When has God used a faithful everyday person, someone you didn’t expect, to send you a message?
Dear Lord, what an example this young Hebrew woman is to us. What an amazing thought it is that someday we will get to meet her and hear her story! Not only did she lack bitterness or anger over her circumstances, but even in the midst of hard times she didn’t forget you, and she also thought of your power to help someone else. Give us that same everyday faith, Lord, so we can embrace the opportunity to share your healing love with others just as she did. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Day 3
Be Like Jesus
Observe
Enter King Jehoram. We’ve already noted how Jehoram appears childishly self-centered, but that really shouldn’t surprise us. Remember how his father, King Ahab, threw himself on his bed and pouted when Naboth refused to sell Ahab his family’s vineyard? Like father, like son. Naaman brings the letter from the king of Syria to Jehoram and as soon as he does, Jehoram’s immediate concern is how this would affect him.
{2 Kings 5:5-7 ESV}
{5} And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. {6} And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” {7} And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
{Philippians 2:3-8 ESV}
{3} Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. {4} Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, {6} who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7} but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. {8} And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
{1 John 3:16-18 ESV}
{16} By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. {17} But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? {18} Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
For Jehoram, the whole world revolves around him. First he laments over how the king of Syria could expect him to do such a thing as cure Naaman’s disease, completely forgetting about God or Elisha, then he quickly shifts to worrying whether this is just a ruse to provoke a fight. Jesus is the absolute opposite of Jeroham. In fact, Jesus is the most selfless person in history. Jesus never said or did anything that was self-serving—he never acted on his own behalf. Even in his darkest hour in the garden of Gethsemane, when he asked if the cup might pass from him, Jesus immediately followed with “not my will, but yours be done.” Facing the savagery of the cross ahead, Jesus still did not turn aside. Whenever you think about Jehoram (or selfish people like him), think also about his polar opposite, Jesus. And then be like Jesus!
Bonus: Writing about humility in the book “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis said this:
“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”
— Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin”
- What would you say are the identifying characteristics of someone who lives selflessly?
- How can we become better at not thinking about ourselves?
God, this is something that trips many of us up all the time. We confess that we evaluate everything through the lens of what it means to us. It’s hard for our weak flesh to have a perspective different from that, but your Son is the perfect example of how it is to be done. Thank you, Lord, that your perfect plan for us is that we should be conformed to the image of your Son, and that includes his humility and love for others, however imperfectly we will display it until we are freed from our sinful natures. There is hope for us if we’re found in you. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 4
It’s All About God
Observe
Naaman reaches Elisha and the encounter does not go well. Naaman’s pride is on full display as he storms away offended, and it almost costs him dearly. After his servants talk sense into him, Naaman’s whole life is changed. His body is healed, yes, but his soul is as well.
{2 Kings 5:8-19a ESV}
{8} But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” {9} So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. {10} And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” {11} But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. {12} Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. {13} But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” {14} So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. {15} Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” {16} But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. {17} Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. {18} In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.” {19} He said to him, “Go in peace.” …
{John 3:25-30 ESV}
{25} Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. {26} And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness–look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” {27} John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. {28} You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ {29} The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. {30} He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Despite how it might have seemed to Naaman, Elisha wasn’t showing him disrespect by sending word through a servant. The prophet’s humility has already been on display in prior weeks of this study and it’s on display once again here. This isn’t the Elisha show, it’s the Lord who will heal Naaman. Elisha is simply the messenger. When Naaman returns to testify about how the Lord has healed him and proclaims himself a new follower of Yahweh, Elisha is pleased to come out and hear that in person. Our mission is to glorify God, and if we carry out the mission properly we should become invisible.
- Why is it right for God to get the glory for something we do using our skills or talents?
- What problems occur when we fall prey to the desire to share some of the credit?
Heavenly Father, you provide everything we have, including the skills, talents, and the breath in our lungs it takes to earn whatever we might think we got on our own. May we never forget that. Let us be reflectors of your goodness to the world and similarly reflect any glory for whatever we do back to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Day 5
Losing Perspective
Observe
Elisha’s servant Gehazi saw all the rich gifts Naaman had offered to Elisha and when Elisha refused the gifts, Gehazi was overcome with greed. He follows Naaman, invents a story about two young men from the sons of the prophets who need assistance, and Naaman is sincerely delighted to help. But when Gehazi returns to the city, a reckoning is coming.
{2 Kings 5:19b-27 ESV}
{19} … But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, {20} Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” {21} So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” {22} And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'” {23} And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. {24} And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. {25} He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” {26} But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? {27} Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
{1 Timothy 6:3-11 ESV}
{3} If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, {4} he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, {5} and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. {6} But godliness with contentment is great gain, {7} for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. {8} But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. {9} But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. {11} But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
When the week began, we read about Naaman, a man who had it all in the eyes of the world, but he lacked in what truly mattered. His body and his soul both needed cleansing that only the Lord could provide. Gehazi lacked wealth and power, but he had what Naaman lacked, a healthy body and knowing the true God—the Lord God of Israel. Overcome by greed, Gehazi compounded the sin of lying by misusing his position as a servant to the man of God in order to gain the riches he craved (two talents of silver represented approximately 300 years worth of wages). God supernaturally gave Elisha knowledge of what Gehazi had done, and God’s judgment on Gehazi was that he (and his descendants!) would be afflicted by the leprosy from which Naaman was cured. Gehazi got what he thought he wanted, but he lost something he could never regain.
- Gehazi’s sin was blatant, but what are some examples of the many lesser ways in which we choose short term pleasure over our commitment to following Jesus?
- If you were asked to list what was great about your life, how far down that list would you get before mentioning that you were a follower of Jesus?
God, it’s so easy to fall into temptation in countless little ways. We are addicted to our comforts and envious of those who seem to have more. We are already blessed beyond measure by your presence, Lord, it’s disappointing when we fail to see that. Open our eyes to see clearly what things are important and what things will just fade away with the years. Give us that sight, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen!